Snap action device



Sept.` 27, 1966 J, Q ROESER 3,275,779

SNAP ACTION DEVICE Filed June 3, 1965 INVENTOR.' JUHN D. RUB SER BY @Mw ATTXS.

United States Patent O The present invention relates -to mechanism for providing a snap actuation to a switch button and lthe like.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved structure of the above described type for operating a pair of switch buttons which bottom out or go solid in their actuated positions, and which structure will continue to provide actuating movement for one of the buttons after the time that the other button has gone solid.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improveddevice of t-he above described type wherein the switch buttons are actuated by a pair of pivoted exible members at a position adjacent the pivotal support of these members, and the opposite ends of these members engage abutments with an audible click after the -time that the switch buttons are actuated.

A further object of the present invention is the provi- -sion of a new and improved structure of the above described type which employs a minimum of parts, is rugged in construction, and efficient in its operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent t-o those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a switch structure embodying principles of the present invention, and in which portions are broken away to better illustrate its internal structure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; v v

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an actuating member seen in FIGS. l and 2; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a leaf spring member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The structure shown inthe drawing generally comprises a pair of momentary action switches 10, each of which has a push button 12 which causes the contacts of its switch mechanism to be closed when the push button is in the inner position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1, and which allows the contacts thereof to be open when its push button 12 is in the dotted positions shown in FIG. 1. The mechanism for moving the push buttons 12 between their outer and inner positions lincludes a generally inverted U-shaped housing or bracket 14, the leg portions 16 of which straddle a pair of switches 10 arranged side by side. The legs 16 are fastened to the switches 10 vby a pair of through bolts 18 which extend through the legs and the switch bodies and are tightened in place. The top portion 20 which connects the legs 16 of the U- shaped bracket14 is spaced from the push buttons 12 by a distance which accommodates the structure which will now be described.

'I'he push buttons 12 are moved between their outer and inner positions by a leaf spring member 22 having ,three generally parallel legs, the outer le'gs 24 of which are positioned over the push buttons 12 and the center leg 26 'of which is positioned generally between the buttons 12. One end of the center leg 26 :is fixed to one end of each ofthe legs 24, andthe other end of the center leg 26 is free and unconnected relative to the fixed ends of the outer legs 24.` The other ends of the outer legs 24 are connected together and have laterally outwardly extending projections 28 which form knife edges that 3,275,779 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 "ice drawing, the actuating member 32 is also provided with laterally extending projections 34 which form knife edges that are received in notches 36 in the ends of the legs 16 opposite from thev notches 30. The other end of the actuating member 32 is provided with a depending leg 38 having a groove 40 therein which receives the free end of the center leg 26 of the leaf spring member 22.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating member 32 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending stops 42 which abut the top portion 20 of the U-shaped bracket 14, and the actuating member 32 and the center leg 26 of the leaf spring member 22 are so formed as to cause the outer legs 24 to bias the push buttons 12 to their inner positions when the stops 42 abut the top portion 20 of the U-shaped bracket 14.

The leaf spring member 22 and the actuating member 32 are so proportioned that they cause the outer legs 24 to move clear of the outer position of the push buttons 12 when theactuating member 32 is moved inwardly past the overcenter point to cause a snap actuation of the leaf spring member 22 to the outer position shown by dotted lines in FIG. l. The structure so far described is caused to move from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. l to the positions shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1 by means of an actuating button 44 which extends through an opening 46 in the top portion 20 of the U-shaped bracket 14 to engage the actuating member 32. The actuating button 44 will be in the dotted position shown 4in FIG. 1 at the same time that the actuating member-32 and the spring leaf member 22 are in the dotted positions shown in FIG. l. Upon release of pressure on the actuating button 44, compression in the center leg 26 of the spring -leaf member 22 biases the actuating member 32 upwardly to move the actuating button 44 from its inner position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1 to the outer position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1.

During this outward movement of the actuating button 44, the outer legs 24 move inwardly to move the push buttons 12 to their inner positions at which time they go solid At the time that the push buttons go solid the free end of the spring leaf member 22 will be outwardly of the switch structures 10, and the spring leaf member 22 is sufficiently flexible that the free lend of the leaf spring member 22 bends downwardly to engage the blocks or housings of the switches 10. This allows the full sequence of operation kinetic force of the spring member 22 to first operate the push buttons 12, and thereafter use up the remaining kinetic energy to produce an audible click as the leaf spring member 22 engages the switches 10. The structure is also proportioned to allow the free end of the spring leaf member 22 to move upwardly and clear the outer positions `of the push buttous 12, and thereafter snap into engagement with the pivoted end lof the actuating member 32. 'Ihis sequence of operation provides a loud audible click on the return stroke of the mechanism also. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, it is the switch blocks 10 and the pivoted end of the actuating member 32 which provide the abutments for limiting the movement of -the free end of the spring leaf member 22. This provides a simplification of structure, but other suitable abutments can be used to provide the same function.

The outer` legs 24 of the structure so far described are exible so as to permit continued inward actuating t movement of one of the push buttons 12 after the time that the other push button 12 has gone solid This exibility also permits the free end of the 'spring member* with downwardlybent U-shaped portions 48 inthe region` overlying the, push buttons 12, to not onlyprovide an accommodating abutment surface for the push buttons` 12,`

but Vfor also providing additional llexibility to the outer legs 24. The downwardly bent U-shaped portions 48` being closet to the pivoted end of the leaf` spring member 22 tend to be moved together during snap actuation until j their movement is limited by the push buttons 12. The U-shaped portions 48 also provide increased flexibility in the region between the push buttons 12 andthe free end of the leaf spring member 22,l so that less resistance is provided tothe above described snap actuation of the free end of the spring member 22, and so that la greater portion of the kinetic energy is transformed into a clicking sound. The structure is so constructed that only three stampings are required in addition to the switches 10. The actuating member 32 can be stamped from a single sheet ofrelatively rigid material, and the construction of the leaf spring member 22 is such that it also can be made from a single piece of spring material. The leaf spring member 22 is sufficiently flexible that it will provide enough movement even when used in very tiny structures .for operating push buttons.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiment shown and described, land it is desired to cover hereby `all novel adaptations, modifications and arrangementsr thereof which come within the practice of Ithose skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. In a switch structureand the iike, including a housing and a plurality of spaced-apart switch actuating buttons each of which is spring biased outwardly to a normal position and each of which Amust be forced inwardly to n a second actuated Iposition, the improvement comprising, a leaf spring member having at least three generally paraliel legs comprising a center compression spring leg and at least ttwo outer tension legs, one end ofy said centerA` leg being fixed to one end of said outer legs and the other end of said `center leg being free of anyconnection to the other end of said outer flegs, said'leaf spring member being pivotally connected to said housing opposite said other end of said outer legs with a center portion of said outer legs Ibeing positioned over respective spaced-apart switch actuating buttons for engagement therewith, an actuating member one end of which is pivotally connected to `said housing at a location adjacent said one end of' tons, Vsaid free end of said center legvbeing retained under said legs of .said leaf spring member and, with the other j end'of said actuating memberbeing free yto move from an outer position adjacent said housing to an inner position adjacent said buttons, said free end of said center leg being pivotally retained under compression by saidactuating member and being shapedto cause said outer 1 legs to abut and hold said respective buttons in their in- 1er positions when said actuating member is in said outer position and to cause said leaf spring member to snap :o an outer position allowing said respective `buttons to nove to' their outer positions when said actuating memer is moved to its inner position, and abutment means engaged by said leaf spring member when said one end if said legs are in said outer and inner positions, said )uter and inner positions of said leaf spring member being rutwardly and inwardly'respectively of the unbent posiions of said outside legs of saidleaf spring member 4 t when engaging Ysaid respective buttons in their outer and inner positions respectively. t Y v 2. In a switch structure and the likein`cluding a housing and a pair of spaced-apart switch actuating `buttons each of which is spring biased outwardly toa normal position andeach of which must be forced inwardly to a second actuated position, the improvement comprising, 4a leaf spring member having three generally parallel legs com-vk prising a center compression spring legand two outer ten-` sion legs, one end of said center` leg being integrally Ac onnected to one end of said outer legs and the other end ofsaid center leg being unconnected to the other end of said out'erflegs, said other end of said outer legs being inf piv.-

otal abutment with said'housing with a `center-portion of l,

said outer legs adjacent said pivotal abutment being positioned over` said pair of spaced-apart switch kactuating buttons for engagement therewith, an actuating member one end of which pivotally abuts said housing at a location ad-I shaped to cause said outer legsV to abut and hold said. buttons in theirinner positions when said actuating member is in said outerv position and to cause said leaf spring mem-4 ber to snap toan outer positionallowing said buttonsto move to their outer positions when said actuating member is moved to its inner position, and abutment means en;V

gaged by said leaf spring memberfwhen said one end .of

Ysaid legs are in said outer and inner positions, `said `outer and inner positions of said leaf spring membertbeing outwardly and inwardly respectively of the unbent positions of said outer legs of fsaid leaf spring member when engaging said buttons in their outer and inner positions respectively. Y

3. In a switch structure and the like, including a housing and a pair of spaced-apart switch actuating buttonsY each of which is spring `biased,outwa-rdlyjto a normal position and .each Yof hwich must `be forced inwardly` to a second actuated position, the improvement comprising, a leaf spring lmember having three generally4 parallel legs comprising `a center compression `spring ,legA

Vand two outer, `tension legs, one `end of said center leg bein-g integrally connected to one end ofv said .outer legs and the other end of said center leg being unconnected to the other end of said outer legs, said other end'of said outer legs being in pivotal abutment=with said housing,

said outer legs having a downwardly bent U-shaped portion positioned over said pair of spaced-apart switch actu- -ating lbuttonsy for engagement` therewith, an actuatingy member one end of which pivotally abuts said housing at a location adjacent said one end-of said legsof said leaf spring member and with theother: er1-d .of said actuating 1 member being free to move from `an outerA position abutting said housing to an inner position adjacent said butcompression by pivotal abutmentwith said actuating memt ber and being shaped to Vcause said outer legs to abutzand hold said buttons in their inner positions when said actut ating member Vis in said outer. position and. to cause said f leaf spring mem-ber to snap to an outer position allowing said buttons to move to their outer positionswhen said 1 actuating member is moved to its inner` position, and abutment means yengaged by saidleaf springmember when t lsaid one end of lsaid legs are .in saidV outer and inner posil tions, said outer and. inner positions of Ysaid leaf spring member being outwardly and inwardly respectively of the unbent positions of said 'outer legs ofsaid leaf `spring Y member, when engaging said buttons in their` outer :and

inner positions respectively.

No references cited.`

ROBERT SOHAEFER', Primary Examiner. 

3. IN A SWITCH STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE, INCLUDING A HOUSING AND A PAIR OF SPACED-APART SWITCH ACTUATING BUTTONS EACH OF WHICH IS SPRING BIASED OUTWARDLY TO A NORMAL POSITION AND EACH OF WHICH MUST BE FORCED INWARDLY TO A SECOND ACTUATED POSITION, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, A LEAF SPRING MEMBER HAVING THREE GENERALLY PARALLEL LEGS COMPRISING A CENTER COMPRESSION SPRING LEG AND TWO OUTER TENSION LEGS, ONE END OF SAID CENTER LEG BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID OUTER LEGS AND THE OTHER END OF SAID CENTER LEG BEING UNCONNECTED TO THE OUTER END OF SAID OUTER LEGS, SAID OTHER END OF SAID OUTER LEGS BEING IN PIVOTAL ABUTMENT WITH SAID HOUSING, SAID OUTER LEGS HAVING A DOWNWARDLY BENT U-SHAPED PORTION POSITIONED OVER SAID PAIR OF SPACED-APART SWITCH ACTUATING BUTTONS FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, AN ACTUATING MEMBER ONE END OF WHICH PIVOTALLY ABUTS SAID HOUSING AT A LOCATION ADJACENT SAID ONE END OF SAID LEGS OF SAID LEG SPRING MEMBER AND WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER BEING FREE TO MOVE FROM AN OUTER POSITION ABUTTING SAID HOUSING TO AN INNER POSITION ADJACENT SAID BUTTONS, SAID FREE END OF SAID CENTER LEG BEING RETAINED UNDER COMPRESSION BY PIVOTAL ABUTMENT WITH SAID ACTUATING MEMEBER AND BEING SHAPED TO CAUSE SAID OUTER LEGS TO ABUT AND HOLD SAID BUTTONS IN THEIR INNER POSITIONS WHEN SAID ACTUATING MEMBER IS IN SAID OUTER POSITIONS WHEN SAID ACTULEAF SPRING MEMBER TO SNAP TO AN OUTER POSITION ALLOWING SAID BUTTONS TO MOVE TO THEIR OUTER POSITIONS WHEN SAID ACTUATING MEMBER IS MOVED TO ITS INNER POSITION, AND ABUTMENT MEANS ENGAGED BY SAID LEAF SPRING MEMBER WHEN SAID ONE END OF SAID LEGS ARE IN SAID OUTER AND INNER POSITIONS, SAID OUTER AND INNER POSITIONS OF SAID LEAF SPRING MEMBER BEING OUTWARDLY AND INWARDLY RESPECTIVELY OF THE UNBENT POSITIONS OF SAID OUTER LEGS OF SAID LEAF SPRING MEMBER WHEN ENGAGING SAID BUTTONS IN THEIR OUTER AND INNER POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY. 